Ken Howard obit

Ken Howard Dead: '30 Rock' Actor, SAG-AFTRA President Dies at 71

He was not on the list.

Ken Howard, president of SAG-AFTRA, died at the age of 71 on Wednesday, March 23, SAG-AFTRA confirms. He passed away at his home near Los Angeles. No other information has been provided.

The California resident, who grew up on New York's Long Island, was best known for both his stage and screen work. He rose to fame with his role as Ken Reeves in the series The White Shadow, which ran from 1978 to 1981.

Howard also acted in TV shows such as Murder, She Wrote, Melrose Place, Crossing Jordan and Cane. He starred as lovably corrupt network executive Hank Hooper on the NBC comedy 30 Rock from 2011 to 2013, and last appeared as a mop executive in Jennifer Lawrence's 2015 drama, Joy.

According to the L.A. Times, Howard — an Emmy and Tony winner — also taught acting and public speaking at Harvard University in the mid-'90s. Back in August, he beat Home Improvement's Patricia Richardson for a second term as the president of SAG-AFTRA.

“Ken was an inspirational leader, and it is an incredible loss for SAG-AFTRA, for his family and for everyone who knew him," acting president Gabrielle Carteris said in a statement on Wednesday. "He was a light that never dimmed and was completely devoted to the membership. He led us through tumultuous times and set our union on a steady course of excellence. We will be forever in his debt."

SAG-AFTRA’S national executive director David White also paid tribute to the late star. "Ken was a remarkable leader, and his powerful vision for this union was a source of inspiration for all of us," he said in a statement, via the Los Angeles Times. "He was an exceptional person, and we are deeply saddened by his passing. He had a remarkable career and he never forgot what it was like to be a working performer."


Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes

1970 Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon Arthur

1971 Such Good Friends Cal

1972 The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie Virgil

1776 Thomas Jefferson

1976 Independence Thomas Jefferson Short film directed by John Huston.

1983 Second Thoughts John Michael

1991 Oscar Kirkwood

1993 Ulterior Motives Malcolm Carter

1994 Clear and Present Danger Committee Chairman

1995 The Net Bergstrom

1998 Tactical Assault General Horace White

1999 At First Sight Virgil's Father

2004 Stuck Marty Short film directed by Clark Harris.

Double Dare Himself Documentary film

2005 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story Bill Ford

In Her Shoes Michael Feller

2006 Arc Santee

2007 Michael Clayton Don Jeffries

2008 Rambo Father Arthur Marsh

Under Still Waters Conrad

Smother Gene Cooper

2009 Two:Thirteen Sheriff Sedgewick

The Beacon Officer Bobby Ford

2010 A The Numbers Game Harold

2011 J. Edgar Harlan Fiske Stone

2012 A Fighting Man George Short film

Just an American Dr. Sullivan

2013 A.C.O.D. Gary

2014 Better Living Through Chemistry Walter Bishop

The Judge Judge Warren

2015 The Wedding Ringer Ed Palmer

Joy Mop Executive Final Film Role



Television

Year Title Role Notes

1969 N.Y.P.D. Rick Crossfield Episode: "Everybody Loved Him"

1972 Bonanza Samuel Clemens Episode: "The Twenty-Sixth Grave"

Medical Center Kevin Morgan Episode: "The Outcast"

1973 Adam's Rib Adam Bonner Contract role

1974 Manhunter Dave Barrett

1974–75 The Manhunter Dave Barrett Contract role

1977 The Court Martial of George Custer Prosecuting attorney Made-for-TV movie

1978 Superdome Dave Walecki Made-for-TV movie

The Critical List Nels Freiberg Made-for-TV movie

A Real American Hero Danny Boy Mitchell Made-for-TV movie

1978–81 The White Shadow Ken Reeves Contract role

1980 Father Damien: The Leper Priest Father Damien Made-for-TV movie

1982 Victims Joe Buckley Made-for-TV movie

The Country Girl Bernie Dodd Made-for-TV movie

1983 It's Not Easy Jack Long Contract role

1983 Rage of Angels Adam Warner Miniseries

The Thorn Birds Rainer Hartheim Miniseries

1984 Glitter Senator Episode: "Pilot"

He's Not Your Son Michael Saunders Made-for-TV

American Playhouse Pudd'nhead Wilson Episode: "Pudd'nhead Wilson"

Hotel Bill Tillery Episode: "Passages"

1985–86 Dynasty Garrett Boydston Recurring

The Colbys Recurring

1985 Hotel Malcolm Taylor Episode: "Missing Pieces"

1986 Rage of Angels: The Story Continues Adam J. Warner Made-for-TV-Movie

Dream Girl, U.S.A. TV Host Contract role

1988 American Playhouse Sam Evans Episode: "Strange Interlude"

The Man in the Brown Suit Gordon Race Made-for-TV-Movie

1985-1989 Murder, She Wrote Various Roles 6 episodes

1991 Deadly Nightmares Dubois Episode: "Homecoming"

P.S. I Luv U Jack Packer Episode: "Pilot"

Murder in New Hampshire Bill Smart Made-for-TV-Movie

Memories of Midnight Kirk Reynolds Made-for-TV-Movie

1992 The Golden Girls Jerry Episode: "The Commitments"

Mastergate Courtleigh Bishop Made-for-TV-Movie

1993 Batman: The Animated Series Hartness Episode: "See No Evil"

Hart to Hart Returns Dr. Paul Menard Made-for-TV-Movie

1994 One West Waikiki Ronald Markham Episode: "Til Death Do Us Part"

Moment of Truth: To Walk Again Ed Keating Made-for-TV-Movie

Captain Planet and the Planeteers Voice Episode: "A River Ran Through It"

1994–98 Melrose Place Mr. George Andrews Recurring

1995 Op Center The President Miniseries

Her Hidden Truth Jack Devereaux Made-for-TV-Movie

1996 Diagnosis: Murder Special Agent Dunleavy Episode: "Murder Can Be Contagious"

Arli$ Rocky Episode: "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of"

The Client Charlie Braxton Episode: "Money Talks"

1997 Something Borrowed, Something Blue Senator John Farrell Made-for-TV-Movie

Diagnosis: Murder David Clarke Episode: "Slam Dunk Dead"

The Practice Senator Frank Patanki Episode: "Hide and Seek"

1999 The West Wing Judge Peyton Cabot Harrison III Episode: "The Short List"

A Vow To Cherish John Brighton Made-for-TV-Movie

2000 The Practice Defense Atty. Bradford Episode: "Race Ipsa Loquitor"

Perfect Murder, Perfect Town Alex Hunter Miniseries

2001–05 Crossing Jordan Max Cavanaugh Recurring

2001 Family Law Reardon Episode: "Film at Eleven"

Arli$$ Coach Dreyfuss Episode: "Of Cabbages and Kings"

2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Ken Abbot Episodes: 2 episodes

A Boyfriend for Christmas Judge Uncredited

2006 The Office Ed Truck Episode: "The Carpet"

George Lopez Dr. Woodson Episode: "The Kidney Stays in the Picture"

Ghost Whisperer Judge Walter Merrick Episode: "Fury"

Huff Walt Callahan 2 episodes

Conviction Judge Hanford Episode: "The Wall"

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Arlen Rieff Episode: "Cage"

2007 Sacrifices of the Heart Thane Weston Made-for-TV-movie

The Nine Alvy Munson Episode: "Man of the Year"

Cane Joe Samuels Recurring

2008 Brothers & Sisters Boyd Taylor Episode: "Double Negative"

Eli Stone Thomas Hayes Episode: "Grace"

Boston Legal Judge Walter Yardley Episode: "Kill, Baby, Kill!"

Dirty Sexy Money Evan Connello Episode: "The Summer House"

2009 Cold Case Harry Kemp Jr. '58 Episode: "Libertyville"

Grey Gardens Phelan Beale Television Movie, HBO

2011–13 30 Rock Hank Hooper Recurring - 9 episodes

2011 The Council of Dads Burt Wells Made-for-TV movie

Fairly Legal Charles Pease Episode: "Pilot"

The Closer Wes Durant Episode: "Star Turn"

2012 The Young and the Restless George Summers 3 episodes

Blue Bloods Malcolm Episode: "Nightmares"

Counter Culture Ken Made-for-TV movie

2014 The McCarthys Coach Colwell Episode: "Pilot"